Entre la reflexión y la gracia: "Sobre el teatro de marionetas" de Heinrich von Kleist.

Abstract

This paper focuses on how Kleist’s essay “On the Puppet Theater” (1810) explores the contrast between reflection and conscience, on the one hand, and grace, on the other. Grace appears in the sense of a quality, or a gift, but also, in a theological sense. My approach is unexpectedly new: it is half-way between English philology and philosophy. From the former Romantic writer’s point of view, the marionettes’ dance, by being directed by the puppeteer’s hands, is superior to the adult man’s acts. As they are propelled by reflection and conscience, they finally become affected and artificial. In order to regain grace, man must eat once again from the tree of knowledge to conquer a second innocence that he must lose again. And after regaining the gods’ infinite knowledge, he will be ready to receive grace.